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Petite Pachyderm
What message does Mérelle portray through this sculpture?
French artist Fabien Mérelle (fah-bee-ehn mehr-el) wonders what it would be like to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. So in this sculpture, the artist depicts himself as a young man balancing an elephant, representing the weight of the world, on his back. If this seems like something out of a strange dream, it may be. The artist uses his imagination and childhood memories to inspire him. Many of his works deal with big ideas, but on a small scale. This piece measures just 30 by 27 by 12 inches. Mérelle used resin, paint, real hair, and fabric to form the man and the beast. The small sculpture’s impressive detail lets the artist play with the viewer’s grip on reality.
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